Go Local funds brought in between $800-$2,000 for individual schools last year (though additional funds were also raised for the Asheville City Schools Foundation). While that sum may seem modest, teachers and PTO members point out that, unlike with many grants from private or government sources, the school is allowed to choose how to spend that money without oversight. Having flexible funds to use on specific projects can really makes a difference, they say.
“The beauty of Go Local is that the teachers are able to choose what they need for their classrooms, and directly purchase the items without it having to come out of their pockets,” says Terry Bellamy, the former mayor who volunteers on the Vance Elementary Parent Team.
At Asheville High School, Go Local funds “mini-grants” of up to $500 for teachers. “If we didn’t receive those grants, it’s money we would be spending out of our own pockets, and it would be a lot,” notes science teacher Brian Schultz.
You can find out more about Go Local’s impact in the schools in a series of short articles on mountainx.com.
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